PRESS
LA TIMES
By Noel Murray
April 8, 2022
The surprise success of this year’s best picture winner, “CODA,” may lead some viewers to seek more movies about deaf culture. For something more offbeat than “CODA,” they should try the inventive comedy “What?,” which applies the look and techniques of classic black-and-white silent movies to a contemporary showbiz story.
the big smoke
James Jay Edwards
April 8, 2022
While we may not see a ton more movies made by and for deaf people, there probably will be an uptick after [CODA’s] win. And some of them, like The Maucere Brothers’ What?, may even up the ante.
On the inclusion and representation scale, What? is off the charts. No one can say this unit doesn’t understand the content.
The experience of What? is both immersive and educational. And it’s all filtered through the lens of comedy.
[Justin Asher’s] musical score is a tour-de-force.
SPECTRUM NEWs 1: Interview with John Maucere
April 21, 2022
Actor John Maucere discusses his silent comedy film titled “What?” alongside his interpreter, Jon Wolfe Nelson, for “Your Morning.”
Maucere, who is Deaf, shares what it was like to work on a film created by a team made up of mostly deaf filmmakers and producers.
Click the image to watch the full interview on SpectrumNews1.com
EYE FOR FILM
By Jennie Kermode
April 19, 2022
Maucere is incredibly expressive, with both suits the silent style and makes the point that much of the communication everyone uses day to day doesn’t require sound. This also contributes to the film’s lively humour.
Access to cinema with adequate subtitling is still a massive problem for Deaf audiences around the world, but there’s one genre of film where that issue just doesn’t arise: silent film. indeed, support from the Deaf community is part of what has helped to keep the treasures of the silent era alive. This film reflects that love, using the techniques of the silent era – in black and white, of course – to tell a contemporary story about a Deaf actor looking for a job.
DEADLINE
Matt Grober
March 18, 2022
Read all about our acquisition and release in DEADLINE
DIVERSIONS LA
November 16, 2021
Black and white, Chaplinesque from its score to shooting style, What? offered an engaging look at today’s LA in silent-movie style. The fairytale-like quality of this story of a deaf actor tired of discrimination against him, the film is reminiscent of 2011 Academy Award winner The Actor, and equally lovingly-made.
Pastrami nation
Rebecca Smith
June 4, 2022
Maucere’s strengths are extraordinarily showcased in this film.
An interview with John Maucere
October 18, 2021
“John Maucere, comedian film maker and Deaf actor, known for “No Ordinary Hero: The SuperDeafy Movie”, just celebrated his latest project called “What?” This is Maucere’s latest movie!
Wait, what? Yes, “What?” The name of the movie.
The movie is modeled after the slapstick silent films of Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin. “What?” takes us where? Into Maucere’s own life as a deaf actor in a funny and engaging story. ABILITY Magazine’s George Kaplan spoke with Maucere following the premier at the Chinese Theatre… or the premier of “What?” …
Kids First!
Eshaan M.
October 3, 2021
Eshaan M.'s Interview with John Maucere about What?
Kids First!
Eshaan M.
Sept. 18, 2021
Enjoy Eshaan M.'s Interview with Alek Lev about What?
The Daily Moth
Justin Jackerson
Sept. 9, 2021
Justin Jackerson attends The WHAT? Film premiere in Los Angeles. “Wow, this is a big event!”
Meet Alek Lev |
Writer / Director / Producer
Local Stories
September 7, 2021
“I’m incredibly proud of what we all made and the film will have its world premiere at the Dances with Films Festival in Hollywood on September 9th. It was a two year process, and a fantastic one.”
L.A.’s Dances With Films Unveils Lineup, Sets Paul Greengrass & Michael London As Speakers For Inaugural First Films Series
By Matt Grobar
August 24,2021
“Others to look out for include Voodoo Macbeth, Alek Lev’s What?, Gina M. Garica’s Untold: This is My Story, Lane Michael Stanley’s Addict Named Hal, Josh Hope’s Alex/October, Niki Byrne’s Evan Wood, and Paula Rhodes’ Delicate State, among others.”